Movie Review: The Boy in the Stripped Pajamas

Length: 1 hour & 46 minutes
Released: 2008
Genre: Drama
Rating: PG-13
Directed By: Mark Herman
Where I Got It: netflix 

SUMMARY:
"Mark Herman's adaptation of John Boyne's novel concerning the forbidden friendship that between an eight-year-old German boy and a Jewish concentration camp prisoner in World War II-era Germany. The innocent son of a high-ranking Nazi commandant, Bruno has been largely shielded from the harsh realities of the war. When Bruno discovers that his father has been promoted and that their family will be moving from Berlin into the countryside, he doesn't take the news well. Increasingly bored in his sprawling yet dreary country abode and forbidden by his mother from exploring the backyard, young Bruno searches for something to do while his older sister plays with dolls and vies for the attention of handsome Lieutenant Kotler." 

TRAILER:

CAST:
Bruno - Asa Butterfield
Shmuel - Jack Scanlon
Gretel - Amber Beattie
Bruno's Father - David Thewlis
Bruno's Mother - Vera Farmiga
Grandpa - Richard Johnson
Grandma - Sheila Hancock
Lieutant Kotler - Rupert Friend
Pavel - David Hayman
Herr Liszt - Jim Norton
Maria - Cara Horgan

REVIEW:
I've seen this many, many, many times. I simply adore this movie. It's such a beautiful tale of innocence, friendships, love, and tragedy. Yes, tragedy. It DOES deal with the Holocaust, after all. I really should read the book someday. Mhmmmm

The acting and script writing was wonderful. They picked a great cast. They picked a really good family...they look like a real family. Bruno looks like a spitting image of the "mom", while Gretel looks a lot like the "father". Which I think they did on purpose. "Father" is a Nazi and believes in the cause and the daughter takes after those thoughts and beliefs for a time. "Mom" at first is rather naive and innocent about what her husband does (meaning he runs the concentration camp a few blocks away), but then finds out and despises it and him, and then Bruno is similar. Granted he doesn't ever really understand what his father is doing. I loved Shmuel. Probably the cutest kid. Great kid to play the role, he did a wonderful job. I really wonder why none of the actors won an Oscar. Oh well.

I have nothing to complain about. I just wish they would have played around more with Gretel's development as well. Oh well...also I hated the ending. Mind you, it was a FANTASTIC ending. However, I cry EVERY TIME! I've watched this well over five times now and I still cry like a child. I did watch this with Boyfriend on our second movie date a while back, so I had to restrain myself immensely. I also watched it in my Humanities class and the buff, football playing tough guy next to me even teared up a wee bit.

Overall, this is one of my favorite movies. Top Twenty (I should make a list of my top twenty movies, so far).  It does have a rather sad ending, but it's just a great, great movie. If you like Drama or have any interest in History or just movie watching, you need to watch this. You will love it too. Out of five stars I grant this one 5 stars.

Would I Watch Again?:
Already seen it a million times! haha So...yes.

Favorite Character(s): Bruno's Mom, Bruno's Dad (just because I adore the actor) Bruno, Shmeul (cute kid), and Grandma
Not-so Favorite Character(s): Gretel. >.>

*CaroleRae*

Wordless Wednesday

Top Ten Tuesday: Hopeless Crushes

~The Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.~

Happy Tuesday. I was awaken early this morning, because Boyfriend had to go to work and I feel bad if I stay asleep while he gets ready for work. I don't get to spend much time with him, so I like to arise from the depth of my slumber to hang out with him. He made some coffee and insisted I drink some (I must have looked like death). I did...and now I'm awake. Gah! Oh well. So I shall do this week's TTT and then share a movie review either later today or tomorrow. We shall see.

Anyways...this week the topic is: fictional hopeless crushes. There are many. I know it's suppose to be a "book" meme, but there is one on my list that comes from an anime/manga that I'll be sharing. He's new and I think He should be included. I'll try to add some variety to this list too since I did a similar post a while back about my fictional "boyfriends". To check that post out click HERE. I will also add pictures of what I think they look like or what they look like (like the manga/anime one):

~There is no order to this list!~

----Rei from 'Fist of the North Star' 

----Draco Malfoy from 'Harry Potter' series.

-----Jasper Tudor from 'The Red Queen'

----Haun from 'The Seducation of the Phoenix'

----Zhang Jin from 'The Seduction of the Phoenix' 

----White Man's Dog/Fools Crow from 'Fools Crow'

him as an older adult. 

----Grim from 'To Tame A Highland Warrior'

----Captain Alex Reid from 'The Betrayal of the Blood Lily'

----Miles Dorrington from The Pink Carnation Series

----Arius the Barbarian from 'Mistress of Rome' 

Who are you all hopeless crushing on in the fictional world?

*CaroleRae*

Book Review: My Scandalous Viscount

Author: Gaelen Foley

Title: My Scandalous Viscount (Inferno Club #5)
Genre: Historical Romance, Adventure, Intrigue
Pages: 384

First Published: September 1st, 2012
Where I Got It: borrowed from library

"Sebastian, Viscount Beauchamp, lives by a code of honor, and now honor dictates he must marry Miss Carissa Portland. He has no regrets over stealing a kiss from the adorable little busybody--a fitting punishment for putting her delectable nose where it didn't belong. But now, caught in a compromising situation, he knows he must make her his bride. He's faced danger before--but nothing like this!

Carissa is not a gossip--she's a "lady of information." And all she was trying to do was warn the rakehell Beauchamp away from an irate husband. But even she can't flaunt Society, and while her head tells her that Beau's a notorious scoundrel, her heart--and her body--are captivated by his dangerous charm. But when Carissa next goes snooping, the secrets she uncovers about the Inferno Club may prove even more hazardous than falling in love with her own husband."

First of all...

I LOVE THAT DRESS ON THE COVER! I hate the color yellow, but I can't stop looking at this dress. I drool and imagine myself in it (I would look like a twinkie, since yellow looks horrid on me) and how much I want it. I am also glad there is a full head in this picture. The cut-off heads annoy me to know end.

Now I got that out of my system....

This is the fifth book in the Inferno Club series created by the always amazing Gaelen Foley. The series is winding down and there are only two members left who's story needs to be told. I'm sort of sad. I love the whole thing about the infamous Inferno Club who are known for partying, sexing, and just being general rogues are actually spies and warriors for England (and for the greater good throughout the world). I simply adore this notion!

Well, this story centers around the  gossip and infamous snoop Lady of Information, Carissa, and Viscount Beauchamp, the youngest warrior of the Order and always team leader for the second squad. At first I worried that things would drift off and be boring because the couple already had feelings for each other (which was touched upon in the last book), but since she's such a gossip and she is Daphne's friend, the other Order members tell him to stay away. He does until her life's endanger and while in the mist of saving her he compromises her (which nothing did happen), so he has to marry her. This all happened within the first 50 pages. They were married and rather infatuated with each other. I was worried that the book would drag. However, hope was restored because of The Incident and the Order is being threatened by the Regent and other officials of law.

There is a lot going on and there was never a dry moment. Thank goodness. I loved how much there was going, but Gaelen Foley kept everything in order and made sure the reader never stumbled off the path of understanding. I do recommend though...at least read the book before this to understand all that is going on. I also would say to read the others to get the deeper meaning and further in depth about the goings-ons, but it is not 100% necessary. 

I liked Beau and Carissa. Beau...though...his sanity and ego are still in question with me though. After he realized Carissa was comprised and she found out about him being a spy he told her they had to marry. First of all... that's fine. However, he was rather rude about it and he threatened that if she says no there is a chance The Order will be forced to kill her. Okay...I would be rather upset and not 100% sure about wanting to marry him also. He was rude and threatened me. Yes, he looks like Apollo is simply a God, but that proposal is not swoon worthy. After persuasion she agreed. He then got pissed because she didn't swoon over the marriage proposal! WTF? Of course she isn't! GAH! Also I was annoyed that at the beginning he slipped some modern terms and words. Oh well...

He does redeem himself later on, but throughout the novel there are times I don't think his sanity is quite stable and his ego is not measurable. Oh well. He was a good guy, but still...Carissa will have to knock his ego down a peg or two. Which she does, but more is needed. 

In the end, I liked this book a lot. It was a fun adventure I'm so glad Carissa got a HEA. From the beginning, I felt bad that she was left out and Daphne had to be super careful with her gossipy friend due to her husband being a member of the Order. I would recommend this series and this book to those who adore HRs mixed with some action and spies and adventure. I will stamp this with 4 stars.

Favorite Character(s): Carissa, Trevor, Nick, Vicker (Beau's butler...he was hilarious in such a boring way) and Charles (I felt bad for him)

Not-so Favorite Character(s): Mr. Green